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Phillis Wheatley High School Mural Project Through the
ArtworkZ public art program of MOCAH, Phillis Wheatley High School, located 4900
Market in Houston’s historic 5th Ward, students are working with Reginald and
Israel Barbosa to paint a community mural.
The mural project began in February as a tribute to African American
artists during Black History Month. Reginald
will use the mural project as a tool to expose the students to the masterworks
of Houston muralist, Dr. John Biggers.
“Biggers’ works are a visual narrative of the African and African
American experience and I want the young people involved in this project to
reflect and portray their own cultural experiences in our mural the way Biggers
did in his own,” says Adams. The students will study Bigger’s drawings and paintings and view video footage of his artworks and biography. The mural project will be used as an educational tool for the students to learn about the culture and history of community murals, public art, and the artists behind the work. The planning and design workshops began February 5, 2002 and the mural is projected for completion May 23, 2002. Design Phase Through dialogue with the students regarding the relative issues of their community the students brainstormed and derived at the concept of past, present and future. The class of twenty was divided into three groups of 6-7 each. Each group was then assigned one of the categories. From there the smaller teams researched information relative to the past, present and future of Wheatley High School. Each group worked with a basic shape of either the triangle, square and circle to develop their designs. Within each design the students created drawings which would reflect the origins of the school, which was originally located at Gregg St @ Lyons. The first design is encompassed within a triangle. The design includes a portrait of Phillis Wheatley and the the school's first building. The first Phillis Wheatley High School, founded on January 31, 1927, was established in the old McGowan Elementary School Building at 3415 Lyons. This building currently functions as the H.P. Carter Learning Center. The principal, Mr. Earnest Ollington Smith (1927-1945), and a faculty of nineteen teachers enrolled a total of 489 students during the first year. The colors chosen to represent Wheatley were purple hybrid and spotless white. The second design, which symbolizes the present, is encompassed within a square computer screen. Within this design the students incorporated an architectural rendering of the current building, which is located at 4900 Market St. This building was constructed in 1950 on the present site. Surrounding the building are elements of academics and sports, which Wheatley is renowned for. The third design symbolizes the future. The design is encompassed within a circle and depicts a vision of a futuristic classroom. Though it will be many years before the first classrooms reach intergalactic territory the students envisioned a time when their classroom will be on a space station. The mural has taken approximately 12 weeks to complete and the dedication of the mural is set for Sunday, June 16, 2002, 3:30pm at Finnegan Park, 4900 Providence. For additional information contact, Reginald Adams, 713.678.2787.
This project is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston and the Texas Commission on the Arts through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County. |
Museum Of Cultural Arts Houston, © 1999-2003 MOCAH is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization P.O. Box 202059 Houston, Texas USA 77020-2059 Tel: 713.864.2780 Fax: 713.864.1629 MOCAH Studios: 2500 Summer St. 3rd Floor Studio 7 C , Houston, TX 77007 Email: info@mocah.org
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